LYCEUM of the Philippines University rallied from 24 points down to beat Arellano University and remain unbeaten, while San Beda pinned bitter rival Letran its fourth straight defeat in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament yesterday at the Filoil EcoOil Centre.

The Pirates extended their winning streak to five in with a 89-77 overtime victory over the Chiefs.

The Red Lions posted their first back-to-back win of the season, while compounding the Knights’ woes with a 68-63 victory in a heated rivalry game.

Enoch Valdez logged his first double-double outing in the season for LPU with 26 points and 14 rebounds laced with four steals while Mclaude Guadaña tallied 20 points, including a huge triple in the final 15 seconds of regulation that sent the game to extra five minutes, and five boards.

JM Bravo, who was scoreless in the first half, scored back-to-back baskets in the overtime before Greg Cunanan converted a layup that ballooned the Pirates’ lead to 85-75, with 1:48 left.

It was a sorry loss to Arellano, which led 55-31 early in the third on a Danielle Mallari corner triple but could not sustain until the end of regulation.

San Beda improved to 3-1 to level with Jose Rizal University in second place.

Things got physical at the 3:49 mark of the first quarter after Peter Alfaro suffered a bloodied forehead after an apparent elbow hit from Rafael Go, who was ejected for a disqualifying foul.

With a minor cut, Alfaro was able to return to the game.

Jacob Cortez and Yukien Andrada each had 14 points to lead the Red Lions.

The loss negated Kurt Reyson’s season-high 22 points for Letran. The Knights and the Chiefs remained at the bottom at 0-4.

The scores:

First Game

LPU (89) – Valdez 26, Guadaña 20, Bravo 14, Cunanan 10, Omandac 8, Peñafiel 5, Villegas 3, Umali 2, Montaño 1, Barba 0, Versoza 0, Aviles 0.
Arellano (77) – Capulong 13, Mallari 11, Dayrit 10, Sunga 9, Talampas 8, Ongotan 7, Valencia 7, Yanes 6, Villarente 4, Geronimo 2, Abastillas 0, Antonio 0.
Quarterscores: 15-21, 29-48, 49-57, 75-75, 89-77

Second Game

San Beda (68) – Andrada 14, Cortez 14, Cuntapay 10, Visser 7, Puno 6, Alfaro 5, Payosing 5, Gallego 3, Jopia 2, Gonzales 2, Tagle 0.
Letran (63) – Reyson 22, Cuajao 13, Garupit 11, Ariar 6, Monje 4, Santos 3, Javillonar 2, Guarino 2, Go 0, Fajardo 0, Bataller 0, Jumao-as 0.
Quarterscores: 13-13, 26-32, 45-46, 68-63.